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Testing God - 11/24/2008 12:28:40 PM
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pdvc19
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I am confused by the following scripture references. In Malachi 3:10 we are told to put God to the test, but in Deuteronomy 6:16 (and quoted in Matthew 4:7 and Luke 4:12) we are told not to test God.
Can someone please help me understand this passage in Malachi? This one has been bugging me for quite some time, and I just can't get my hands around it. Thanks.
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RE: Testing God - 11/24/2008 12:37:28 PM
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HardKnox
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They speak of two totally opposite contexts. Deut. 6 is defined by the incident at Massah in which the Israelites were murmuring against the providence of God and inciting him to wrath. The passage is Malachi is encouraging the believer to try God and see if he is not faithful to his Promise. It is of the spirit of Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
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RE: Testing God - 11/24/2008 12:47:48 PM
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Ruthie
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If I'm understanding the context correctly, God's basically saying that Israel has not been giving God his due in tithes and offerings. God is basically saying "if you keep your end of the bargain, I'll keep mine. Test me and you'll see that I keep my word."
The other scriptures are talking about trying to force God to prove Himself.
On the one instance, God is making a promise, and in the others, its talking about presumptuously trying to force God's hand.
I think.
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RE: Testing God - 11/24/2008 1:31:37 PM
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LCannon
Posts: 1120
Joined: 2/22/2007
From: Lebanon, OR
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Any 'testing'(proving)of God is one unto obedience(conviction/vulnerability). A classic example is the three Hebrew children in Daniel chapter 3. One can't single out Duet. 6:16 as a point of theology without considering the whole context of vs.13-17. That puts it in a totally different(and proper) perspective.
< Message edited by LCannon -- 11/24/2008 4:10:22 PM >
_____________________________
'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' (Joshua 1:5)
''Let the very worst thing come to pass[and]even there,
especially there; His hand will hold.' -Elisabeth Elliot-
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RE: Testing God - 11/24/2008 3:54:53 PM
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Bluethread
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One is testing Adonai presumptiously. The other is a means of building trust. If one were to put water to the test by trying to walk across a lake, unless one is clearly directed to do so by Adonai, one would be very disappointed. But if one were to test a floatation device that is in good working order, that would be appropriate.
We are not to test Adonai by expecting He will bless us without our following His direction. However, if He has told us to do something, we should have faith in Him. If one is fearful, one should at least test it to see if Adonai will bless. However, we have more than one example of someone not receiving complete blessing due to a lack of faith.
< Message edited by Bluethread -- 11/24/2008 4:01:48 PM >
_____________________________
"Show me wherein I have errored and I will hold my tongue." Iyov(Job)
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RE: Testing God - 11/24/2008 7:51:11 PM
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pdvc19
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Thank you all, and I appreciate your comments. I understand what you're saying. I get the, 'it's okay to test God's promises, but don't test Him presumptuously.' I guess what confuses me is the quoting Jesus did when being tempted by the devil.
Was Jesus essentially saying, "devil you're quoting scripture out of context"? Or would it have been presumptuous for Jesus to trust in God's word that he wouldn't have been harmed had he thrown himself off the temple? Or is this simply a case of Jesus not wanting to show his hand, that he is the Son of God?
I just don't get why He quoted the Deuteronomy verse because, as HardKnox pointed out, that scripture is in reference to Massah.
Thanks for helping me to understand these verses.
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RE: Testing God - 11/24/2008 8:45:42 PM
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Bluethread
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quote:
ORIGINAL: pdvc19
Thank you all, and I appreciate your comments. I understand what you're saying. I get the, 'it's okay to test God's promises, but don't test Him presumptuously.' I guess what confuses me is the quoting Jesus did when being tempted by the devil.
Was Jesus essentially saying, "devil you're quoting scripture out of context"? Or would it have been presumptuous for Jesus to trust in God's word that he wouldn't have been harmed had he thrown himself off the temple? Or is this simply a case of Jesus not wanting to show his hand, that he is the Son of God?
I just don't get why He quoted the Deuteronomy verse because, as HardKnox pointed out, that scripture is in reference to Massah.
Thanks for helping me to understand these verses.
This is similar to the snakehandling verse. There are some who when in the course of doing Adonai's work will encounter snakes and Adonai will protect them, as He did with Paul. Yeshua(Jesus) did not need to fabricate a circumstance to prove His Messiahship. There were many cases where angels protected Him from people who wished to do Him harm. Had the deceiver actually saught to throw Him from the pinnicle of the temple, angles would no doubt have attended Him. I believe what the deceiver was trying to do was maintain his excuse of being able to say, "You can't represent man, because you aren't really a man. You have authority over angels and they don't. Therefore, if you are going to condemn me,you have to condemn them to."
_____________________________
"Show me wherein I have errored and I will hold my tongue." Iyov(Job)
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RE: Testing God - 11/24/2008 11:32:52 PM
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pdvc19
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Okay, fair enough. I think I can safely put this one to bed  . Thanks for the help.
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